Lawmaker: Charge seniors more at national parks

'$10? At age 65? I think we need to look at that'

Published: 04/17/2013 at 11:52 PM

(CNN/Money) Seniors should pay more to access national parks, said one lawmaker during a House hearing Tuesday on forced budget cuts.

Currently seniors age 62 and older can buy a lifetime access pass for $10 — allowing them to bypass entrance fees at national parks. The deal is touted by groups such as AARP as one of the perks of aging up or retiring.

But Rep. Jackie Speier, a California Democrat, asked National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis if the nation can afford such a deal for seniors anymore, especially with most Americans opposed to paying higher taxes that would pay to maintain national treasures such as parks.

“$10? At age 65? I think we need to look at that,” Speier said. “There’s a lot of people who can pay more than $10 for the rest of their lives.”